Roger Federer reclaims kingdom at Wimbledon with title number 8
14 years after he won his 1st title and 5 years since his title win at the hallowed grounds of SW19, Roger Federer defied time, odd and skeptics yet again as he beat former US Open champion Marin Cilic in straight sets. Coming into the match Federer was hand’s down the favorite but even his die hard fans would not have thought the Swiss superstar would win his 19th Grand Slam without dropping a set and that too just a month shy of his 36th birthday.
Federer wins Wimbledon without dropping a set
Federer joined Bjorn Borg as the only men in the open era to win Wimbledon without dropping a set. Infact the Swiss who will rise to number 3 in the rankings has not lost a set since Halle last month. Federer started the match by choosing to receive first in an attempt to cash in on Cilic’s first Wimbledon final jitters. The move seemed to have paid off as the 35 year old took Cilic’s serve to deuce in the very first game but the 28 year old Croat served his way out of trouble. The very next game it was Federer’s turn to face the fire as Cilic looked to take lead in the first set. That was the only moment when Cilic looked like standing toe to toe with the Swiss maestro at center court. For the next hour and a half it was all Federer as he hit winner after winner against Cilic whose movement was hampered with a blister on his foot.
2017: Roger’s renaissance year
By the end of 2016 many were expecting 2017 to be Roger’s farewell tour on the professional circuit. 6 months into 2017 and Roger Federer has spun the tennis world on its axis. Despite missing almost 2 months of clay court season Federer is a top contender to return to number 1 in the rankings which could soon become a reality given the fact that he is defending 0 points post Wimbledon.
The 2017 version of Federer has defied conventional logic and belief. Not only that he seems to have found an answer to his greatest nemesis Rafael Nadal registering 4 straight wins over the Spaniard in 2017 including an epic 5 setter at the Australian Open. With his win at Wimbledon Federer has now won 2 of the first 3 Grand Slams something which he last did in 2009 and a 6th title at US Open doesn’t look out of sight.
